Breathing 😧

[runningforchips]

Okay so I know this has probably been covered a lot, but I still feel like I haven't got a rhythm with my breathing. I know i should just try not to think about it too much, but feel like at week 5 i should be okay with my breathing by now? Has anyone else found they're still struggling?

[Millsie-J Graduate]

You must be ok, you are still with us!

Just do what comes naturally, keep breathing . If you are out of breath you need to slow down. Simples!

[Irishprincess Graduate]

The more you think and worry about it the more aware you become and anxiety increases heart rate 😏 Chill, relax, big deep breaths before you start and you'll be fine.

As long as I'm still breathing at all when I've finished a run then I'm happy 🙂

[Wizziewood]

Well done for getting to W5, that's an achievement.

As the others have already said, don't worry about it.

But if it's playing on your mind think about it in bed or when you're watching TV. Just think about breathing in for the count of 4 and breathing out for the count of 4, at a comfortable speed for you. If you practice when you're relaxed in time it will just happen in your running.

Definitely do not worry about it, it doesn't matter at the moment.

Good luck and happy running!

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

A sustainable pace is one at which you can breathe evenly and easily. Basically, if you can't breathe, slow down until you can.

Don't worry about patterns, rhythms or timing.......just breathe, just run. Pace will come in time.

[JoolieB1 Graduate]

I think counting or having a rhythm feels unnatural to me. I just run at a comfortable speed, make sure I breathe slowly and deeply and that is working for me

[mrmick]

I'm in week 6 and still cannot regulate my breathing, some days are better than others. For me finding the right pace is the key when I get this right my breathing is more controlled.

[Bazza1234 Graduate]

I am definitely a proponent of "rhythmic breathing". It takes some practice but after a while becomes automatic. It is like dancing - when dancing, your feet move in time to the beat of the music. If you try to foxtrot to a waltz beat, you are in for trouble Rhythmic breathing is simply breathing in and out in time to the beat of your feet on the pavement. Obviously the rate of breathing increases/decreases with running pace - if you run slow enough there is probably no need for it - after all when we stroll along on a casual walk we don't need to breath to any pattern. But increasing the pace increases the rate of breathing - increase the pace fast enough then you really need to have a close control over your breathing rate and pattern.

[Bazza1234 Graduate in reply to Bazza1234]

We run because we can - not because we know how to!!

[Jonesy101]

Well done for getting to week five! I've been running for five years now, having started with NHS C25K. Think back to week one, bet you're breathing a lot easier now than then? Five years on and I still have runs where I can't find my rhythm but those runs are still better than sitting on the couch!